Vending machine with non-vend storage area and modular storage unit

Abstract

A cabinet for housing a vending machine having an article storage area from which the articles stored therein cannot be automatically vended by the dispensing apparatus of the vending machine. An interchangeable storage module is adapted to be received within the article storage area from which articles cannot be vended.

1 . A cabinet for housing a vending machine for vending articles, said cabinet having a storage area for storing articles that cannot be vended.  
   
   
       2 . The cabinet of  claim 1  further comprising a storage module adapted to be releasably received within the storage area.  
   
   
       3 . The cabinet of  claim 2  wherein the vending machine further comprises a payment system comprising one or more payment system components, and wherein at least one payment system component is positioned aboard the storage module and operatively connected to said payment system when the storage module is received within the storage area.  
   
   
       4 . The cabinet of  claim 3  wherein the payment system component positioned aboard the storage module is a cash box.  
   
   
       5 . The cabinet of  claim 4  wherein the cash box is enclosed within the storage module by a securable cash box door.  
   
   
       6 . The cabinet of  claim 2  wherein the vending machine further comprises a selection system comprising one or more selection system components, and wherein at least one selection system component is positioned aboard the storage module and operatively connected to said vending machine when the storage module is received within the storage area.  
   
   
       7 . The cabinet of  claim 2  wherein the vending machine further comprises a data recording system comprising one or more data recording components, and wherein at least one data recording component is positioned aboard the storage module and operatively connected to said vending machine when the storage module is received within the storage area.  
   
   
       8 . The cabinet of  claim 2  further comprising a securable door for enclosing the storage module within the cabinet.  
   
   
       9 . The cabinet of  claim 1  further comprising a securable door for enclosing the storage area for storing articles that cannot be vended.  
   
   
       10 . The cabinet of  claim 1  wherein the storage area for storing articles that cannot be vended further comprises at least one relatively level surface upon which one or more articles may be placed.  
   
   
       11 . The cabinet of  claim 2  wherein the cabinet has a front side and wherein an outer face of the storage module comprises a portion of the front side of the cabinet when received within the storage area.  
   
   
       12 . The cabinet of  claim 1  wherein the vending machine further comprises at least one storage area for storing articles that can be vended and wherein the storage area for storing articles that cannot be vended encompasses an area sufficient to accommodate at least as many articles as are required to stock a single storage area for storing articles that can be vended.  
   
   
       13 . The cabinet of  claim 1  wherein the total area encompassed within one or more storage areas for storing articles that cannot be vended is sufficient to accommodate at least a case of the articles to be vended.  
   
   
       14 . The cabinet of  claim 2  wherein the storage module further comprises a securable door.  
   
   
       15 . The cabinet of  claim 2  wherein the storage module further comprises means for assisting with movement.  
   
   
       16 . A vending machine for dispensing articles comprising: 
 (a) one or more first article storage areas for storing a first plurality of articles;    (b) one or more dispensing paths positioned about the first article storage areas for dispensing the first plurality of articles;    (c) a second article storage area for storing a second plurality of articles; said second article storage area lacking a connection to any dispensing path.    
   
   
       17 . The vending machine of  claim 16  further comprising a storage module adapted to be releasably received within said second article storage area.  
   
   
       18 . The vending machine of  claim 17  further comprising a payment system comprising one or more payment system components, and wherein at least one payment system component is positioned aboard the storage module and operatively connected to said payment system when the storage module is received within the storage area.  
   
   
       19 . The vending machine of  claim 18  wherein the payment system component positioned aboard the storage module is a cash box.  
   
   
       20 . The vending machine of  claim 19  wherein the cash box is enclosed within the storage module by a securable cash box door.  
   
   
       21 . The vending machine of  claim 17  further comprising a selection system comprising one or more selection system components, and wherein at least one selection system component is positioned aboard the storage module and operatively connected to said vending machine when the storage module is received within the second article storage area.  
   
   
       22 . The vending machine of  claim 17  further comprising a data recording system comprising one or more data recording components, and wherein at least one data recording component is positioned aboard the storage module and operatively connected to the vending machine when the storage module is received within the second article storage area.  
   
   
       23 . The vending machine of  claim 17  further comprising a securable door for enclosing the storage module within the cabinet.  
   
   
       24 . The vending machine of  claim 16  further comprising a securable door for enclosing the second article storage area.  
   
   
       25 . The vending machine of  claim 16  wherein the second article storage area further comprises at least one relatively level surface upon which one or more articles may be placed.  
   
   
       26 . The vending machine of  claim 17  wherein the cabinet has a front side and wherein an outer face of the storage module comprises a portion of the front side of the cabinet when received within the second article storage area.  
   
   
       27 . The vending machine of  claim 16  wherein the second article storage area encompasses an area sufficient to accommodate at least as many articles as are required to stock a single first article storage area.  
   
   
       28 . The vending machine of  claim 16  wherein the total area encompassed within one or more of said second article storage areas is sufficient to accommodate at least a case of the articles to be vended.  
   
   
       29 . The vending machine of  claim 17  wherein the storage module further comprises a securable door.  
   
   
       30 . The vending machine of  claim 17  wherein the storage module further comprises means for assisting with movement.  
   
   
       31 . A cabinet for housing a vending machine for vending articles, said cabinet having an storage area module for storing articles that cannot be vended, said storage area module being releasably secured to said cabinet.  
   
   
       32 . The cabinet of  claim 31  wherein the vending machine further comprises a payment system comprising one or more payment system components, and wherein at least one payment system component is positioned aboard the storage area module and operatively connected to said payment system when the storage area module is secured to the cabinet.  
   
   
       33 . The cabinet of  claim 32  wherein the payment system component positioned aboard the storage module is a cash box.  
   
   
       34 . The cabinet of  claim 33  wherein the cash box is enclosed within the storage area module by a securable cash box door.  
   
   
       35 . The cabinet of  claim 31  wherein the vending machine further comprises a selection system comprising one or more selection system components, and wherein at least one selection system component is positioned aboard the storage area module and operatively connected to said vending machine when the storage area module is secured to the cabinet.  
   
   
       36 . The cabinet of  claim 31  wherein the vending machine further comprises a data recording system comprising one or more data recording components, and wherein at least one data recording component is positioned aboard the storage area module and operatively connected to said vending machine when the storage area module is secured to the cabinet.  
   
   
       37 . The cabinet of  claim 31  further comprising a securable door for enclosing the storage area module within the cabinet.  
   
   
       38 . The cabinet of  claim 31  wherein the storage area module further comprises at least one relatively level surface upon which one or more articles may be placed.  
   
   
       39 . The cabinet of  claim 31  wherein the cabinet has a front side and wherein an outer face of the storage area module comprises a portion of the front side of the cabinet when secured to the cabinet.  
   
   
       40 . The cabinet of  claim 31  wherein the vending machine further comprises at least one storage area for storing articles that can be vended and wherein the storage area module encompasses an area sufficient to accommodate at least as many articles as are required to stock a single storage area for storing articles that can be vended.  
   
   
       41 . The cabinet of  claim 31  wherein the total area encompassed within the storage area module is sufficient to accommodate at least a case of the articles to be vended.  
   
   
       42 . The cabinet of  claim 31  wherein the storage area module further comprises a securable door.  
   
   
       43 . The cabinet of  claim 31  wherein the storage area module further comprises means for assisting with movement.